Colored fountain



July 13, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 4, 1952 INVENTORL July 13,1954 D. E. KEECH COLORED FOUNTAIN 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 4, 1952 mm m July 13, 1954 D. E. KEECH COLORED FOUNTAIN 7 Sheets-Sheet 15 FiledFeb. 4, 1952 INVENTOR.

July 13, 1954 D. E. KEECH COLORED FOUNTAIN '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb.4, 1952 INVENTOR.

July 13, 11954 D. E. KEECH 2,683,

COLORED FOUNTAIN Filed Feb. 4, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fi e. 63

INVENTOR.'

July 13, 1954 n. E. KEECH 2,683,620

COLORED FOUNTAIN Filed Feb. 4, 1952 T Sheets-Sheet 6 w a1 a 3 unnuucannon uclnauoonun nonunnnuununn ununnnunnu IN V EN TOR.

July 13, 1954 D. E. KEECH COLORED FOUNTAIN.

7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Feb. 4, 1952 m mmm a d I OQ. Mum mm 8m om. N

INVENTOR.

r r M Patented July 13, 1954 UNITED STAT .2")

ENT OFFICE 26 Claims.

This invention relates to ornamental colored fountains and is animprovement on a colored fountain and method of producing the same,invented by John E. Barber, and which is the subject of a co-pendingapplication for U. S. Letters Patent, Serial No. 252,379, filed October20, 1951.

The preferred form of fountain disclosed in said Barber applicationincludes nozzle means for discharging a stream of water upwardly in theform of a rapidly rising spiral of water droplets, with successive turnsof said spiral stream spaced apart as they travel upwardly, and meansfor illuminating said rising spiral stream with a repeated pattern ofsuccessive rapid flashes of successively different colored lights intimed relation with the formation of said spiral stream so that eachrepetition of the illumination of said stream with a flash of each givencolor finds the turns of said stream disposed approximately in acorresponding series of spaced areas fixed in space, thereby creating inthe observer the illusion of viewing simultaneously a series ofapproximately stationary inter-twined differently colored spirals eachcorresponding in shape to the rapidly moving spiral stream of wateractually discharged by said nozzle means. The effect of this is toproduce a beautiful constantly multicolored fountain of inverted conicalshape.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel coloredfountain advantageously utilizing the principle disclosed by Barber in asustained pattern of variations of the same.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a colored fountainunit having a flexibility of design permitting it to be readilydimensioned to throw a column of water into the air of any desireddiameter and to any desired height within the limitations of disposablepower, and embodying means for concentrating a relatively large amountof light in the illumination of the fountain produced thereby.

In my co-pending application, Serial No. 263,- 047, filed December 24,1951 and entitled Colored Fountain (Case A), a colored fountain isdisclosed in which the colored light by which the fountain isilluminated is produced by a rapidly rotating filter through which allthe light from a plurality of fixed light sources is constantlydirected. A design of this description imposes certain limitations onthe character of filter which may be employed, as it must be made to fitinto a relatively small space and stand the strains imposed by rapidrotation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a colored fountainutilizing the principle disclosed by Barber and employing a light filterfor the illumination of the fountain which is either. stationary or ismoved at a relatively slow rate incidental to changing the color patternwith which the fountain is illuminated and through which practically allthe light produced by a central light source may be constantly directed.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide such a coloredfountain in which the space surrounding the axis of the nozzle isoccupied by a plurality of like radially disposed series of difi'erentlycolored and practically stationary light filter panels and in whichmeans is provided which operates in timed relation with the means forrotating or oscillating the nozzle to form the spiral stream of thefountain, to successively direct practically all the light from acentral light source through like colored panels in said plurality ofseries thereby successively illuminating said stream with light colored,in each instance, in accordance with the color of a plurality of filterpanels through which said light is then passing.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a fountain in which alarge portion of the space comprised in a band completely surroundingthe nozzle of said fountain may be occupied by filter panels throughwhich light may be directed upwardly in the illumination of saidfountain.

The efiect produced on the observer by any of the colored fountainsheretofore produced and utilizing the Barber method aforesaid isrendered somewhat less distinct by the fact that as the dividing linebetween two adjacent filter panels passes through a shaft of lightdirected through the filter and onto the fountain, there is asimultaneous illumination of the fountain by the colors of the panels onopposite sides of said dividing line.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a coloredfountain operating on the Barber principle and in which there isrelatively slight mixture of the colors of adjacent filter panelsbetween successive illuminations of said fountain by said two colors.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a colored fountainoperating on the Barber principle in which light from a common lightsource is directed successively through a radial series of diiferentlycolored filter panels and in which a shutter is provided which functionswhen said light is being directed through panel A, for instance, and ismoving towards panel B, so that said shutter blocks the illumination ofpanel 3 until the light is directed approximately equally towards panelsA and B, whereupon said shutter suddenly shifts out of the path of saidlight directed toward panel B and into the path of light directed towardpanel A.

The manner of accomplishing the foregoing objects as well as furtherobjects and advantages will be made manifest in the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in whichFig. 1 is a fragmentary diagrammatic plan view of a preferred embodimentof the invention with a certain portion of this broken away and shown insection on the line l- -l of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation view of Fig. 1 with a portion thereof brokenaway and shown in section on the line 2--2 of Fi 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a portion of Fig. 2and is taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line i-4 of Fig. 3and illustrates the shutter operating mechanism of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a detailed vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5 ofFig. 4 and illustrates one of the stop cushions for absorbing the shockof halting the shutter at the end of each rapid movement thereof.

Fig. 6 is a detailed sectional view taken on the line 6--6 of Fig. 4 andillustrates the pivotal mounting of the escapement latch of the shutterof the invention.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged diagrammatic sectional view taken on the line 1-1of Fig. 2 and illustrating one of the flexible belt multiple panelfilters of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 88 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 99 of Fig. '7 andillustrates the mounting of one of the idle sprocket wheels of themultiple panel filter belt unit shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken on the lineIll-l0 of Fig. 7 and illustrating the structure of one of thegear-driven sprockets of said light filter unit.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on the line I I-i I of Fig. 8 andillustrating the drive mechanism of one of said light filter units.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged diagrammatic sectional view taken on the linel2l2 of Fig. 2 and illustrating the manner in which the belt tightenerof said unit is spring-actuated to maintain the filter belt in tautcondition.

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic elevational view of the spiral stream of waterproduced by the invention as this appears in a rapidly exposedphotograph of the same.

Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic view of the fountain produced by the inventionand illustrates the illusion produced in the observer by the manner inwhich the spiral stream shown in Fig. 13 is illuminated with coloredlights by the mechanism of the fountain.

Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic plan view of rotating mirror and shuttermechanism of invention showing the parts thereof at an vanced stage intheir operation.

Fig. 16 is a view similar to Fig. 15 showing the parts of said mechanismat a still further vanced stage in the operation thereof.

Fig. 1'? is a diagrammatic view of the automatic control mechanism foreffecting a predethe the ad termined routine of changes in the colorpattern manifested in the fountain illustrated in Fig. 14.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of theinvention illustrated therein comprises a fountain 26 having a baseplate 22 with a motor mount 23 welded thereon and having air inlet andoutlet openings 24 and 25 which communicate respectively with air inletconduit 26, and air exhaust conduit 21. Also secured to base plate 22 inthe center thereof is a stuffing box 23 to which water is supplied by awater pipe 29 which extends upwardly through the plate 22.

The plate 22 is substantially hexagonal in shape, and a series of sixradial walls 36 are welded thereto in symmetrical relation with the axisof the plate, and equally spaced circumferentially from each other.Welded to the upper edges of the walls as is a window frame (Fig. 3)includin an inner ring an outer ring 31' and radial legs 38 which extendbetween and unite rings 35 and 31 to form six trapezoidal windowopenings 39. Seats 40 are formed about said openings for receivingtrapezoidal windows II which may be made of heavy plate glass ortransparent plastic or of laminated glass and plastic and of a suitablethickness to withstand the impact of masses of water dropping on saidwindows.

Windows 4! are held in place by a cap ring 43 which overlies inner edgesof said windows and is secured to the ring 36 by screws 44, by clampplates 45 which are secured to the window frame legs 38 by screws 46,and by peripheral clamp plates 47 which are secured to ring 37 by capscrews 48. The cap ring 43 and clamp plates 45 and 4'! are recessed toreceive strips of resilient packing 49 which engage edge portions of thewindows 4| to form a water-tight seal therewith. Each window 4i alsorests upon a perimetrical gasket 56 which is formed of resilient packingmaterial and provides an independent fluid-tight seal about the edges ofthe windows, as well as a cushioned mounting for said windows.

Disposed between each adjacent pair of walls 30 is one of six lightfilter units 55. Each of these units includes an endless light filterbelt 56 having rows of perforations 51 along its opposite edges, whichbelt is made up of an endless series of differently colored sections 58,end edges 59 of which are united in the fabrication of asid belt. Theupper end of each belt 56 is supported on a pair of divergent rods 69(Figs. 2, 3 and 9) the forward end of each of which has an eccentricboss 6! from an inner face 62 of which a bearing stud 63 extendsinwardly, the latter serving as the axle of an idle sprocket 64, saidstud bein turned down to form a shoulder and receive a washer 6E5. Stud63 also extends through an apertured bracket H! which is welded onto theinner edge of an adjacent wall as, the inner end of said stud beingthreaded to receive a nut H which securely binds the inner end of therod to said bracket while leaving the sprocket 64 freely rotatable onthe stud 63.

The outer end of each rod 6!] has an eccentric boss F2 from which a stud13 extends in parallel relation with the stud 63 and is of similarconstruction so as to provide a freely rotatable mounting for an idlesprocket l4, and having a washer I5 and a nut T6 between which a bracketI! having a lower inturned arm 78 is clamped. Arm 18 has a threadedaperture for receiving a screw I9 for a purpose to be made clearhereinafter.

The rods 69 are preferably chromium-plated and highly polished so as toreadily allow the belt 56 to turn about these rods with a minimum offriction therebetween. The sprockets 64 and 14 are so located that theteeth 80 of said sprockets extend through the perforations 51 of thebelt 56, as the latter turns over the rods 60, to place a trapezoidalfilter panel 85 directly beneath the window lI located over said unit 55(Fig. 1).

The panel 85, of the unit 55 being described, lies in a horizontalplane, and the trapezoidal shape given to this panel by the rods 60 onwhich the same is formed, causes the balance of the belt 56 dependingdownwardly from rod 69 to lie at an acute angle relative to thehorizontal (Figs. 2, 3 and 8). In other Words, the main portion of thebelt 56 is inclined outwardly from vertical. At its lower end the belt56 extends around a belt drive mechanism 99 (Figs. 7, 8 and 11), thebelt being maintained in taut, driven relation with this mechanism by abelt tightener 9 I.

Drive mechanism 99 includes a base casting 92, including a bottom plate93 and a wall 94 extending upwardly therefrom at an acute angle so as tolie parallel with the perforated edges of the belt 56. The plate 93 issecured to the base plate 22 by cap screws 95.

Formed integral with the wall 94, on axes perpendicular thereto, is adrive shaft bearing 96, a master gear mounting bearing 91 and a lineshaft bearing 98. Also formed integral with the wall 94 (Fig. 11) areframe shaft mounting bearings 99 and secured in adjusted positionstherein by screws I99 are frame shafts I95 having collars I96 which areslideable thereon and adjustably secured in place by set screws I 631 sothat lugs I96 formed on said collars extend downwardly in parallelrelation at right angles to said shafts.

Secured to the lugs I08 by cap screws I99 (Fig. 8) is a bearing mountingplate H9, said plate having a line shaft bearing I I I formed integraltherewith so as to be coaxial with the bearing 98. Plate III) also hasbearing blocks II 2, H3, H4 and H5 formed integral therewith andextending from the inner face thereof at right angles to the plane ofplate I ll), bearings I I2 and I I3 having bores aligned on one axis andbearings I I4 and H5 having bores aligned on another axis, said axesintersecting the axis of the bearings 9a and III and sloping downwardlyat approximately 45" from horizontal.

Secured to the upper ends of shafts I 05 by cap screws I26 is a bearingmounting plate I2I, said plate having a line shaft bearing I22 formedintegral therewith which is coaxial with the bearings 98 and III (Figs.8 and 11). Plate I2I also has bearing blocks I23, I24, I25 and I26formed integral therewith and extending from the outer face thereof atright angles to the plane of plate I2! bearings I 23 and I24 havingbores aligned on one axis and bearings I25 and I26 having bores alignedon another axis, said axes intersecting the axis of bearings 93, II Iand I22, and sloping downwardly from horizontal slightly as shown inFig. 7.

Lying against inner faces of outer extremities of plate H6 and securedto said plate by Allen screws I2! are lugs I28 which are formed integralwith the inner ends of a pair of filter belt guide rods I29 (Figs. 8, 9and 11) said rods having similar lugs I 39 formed at their outer endswhich are parallel with the lugs I28 and extend upwardly in the samedirection from rods I29. The rods I29 are preferably chromium-plated andpolished in the same manner and for the same purpose as aforestated forrods 60.

The lugs I30 lie flat against front faces of outer extremities of theplate I2I and are secured to said plate by Allen screws ISI. Each of thelugs I29 and I30 (Fig. 10) has a bearing stud I35 which extends inwardlyfrom the inner faces of the lugs I26 and outwardly from the outer facesof the lugs I30 and at right angles to said faces, each of the studs I35having rotatably mounted thereon a bevel gear I36, fixed to the hub ofwhich is a sprocket I31. Extending axially through the hub of the gearI36 and screwed into a threaded axial hole in the stud I 35 is a screw I38, the function of which is to retain said gear in place on said stud.The studs I35 are so located with reference to the rods I29 that teethI39 of the sprockets I37 extend through perforations 51 in the filterbelt 56 when the latter is trained around the rods I29 as shown in Figs.'7, 8 and 11. The rods I29 diverge outwardly so as to lie in the sameplanes respectively with rod 60, and the plane containing the rods I29has an angled relation with the belt 56 which is exactly the opposite ofthe angled relation which the plane containing rods 60 has with saidbelt.

Journaled in bearings 98, III and I22 is a line shaft I49 on which isfixed a pinion gear MI and master bevel gears I42 and I43 (Figs. 8 and11).

Journaled in bearings I23 and I24 (Figs. 7 and 11) is a shaft I44 havingfixed thereon a bevel gear I4'5 which meshes with an adjacent gear I36.Fixed on the opposite end of said shaft is a bevel gear I59 which mesheswith master gear I43. Journaled in bearings I25 and I26 is a shaft I5Ihaving bevel gears I52 and I53 fixed on its opposite ends, gear I52meshing with gear I43 and gear I53 meshing with an adjacent bevel gearI36.

Journaling in bearings H2 and H3 (Fig. 11) is a shaft I54 having bevelgears I55 and I56 fixed upon its opposite ends, gear I 55 meshing withan adjacent gear I36 and gear I56 meshing with master gear I42.

Journaling in bearings II 4 and II 5 (Fig. 11) is a shaft I57 havingbevel gears I58 and I59 fixed on its opposite ends, gear I58 meshingwith master gear I42 and gear I59 meshing with an adjacent gear I36.

Extending through bearing 91 is a bolt I56 on which is mounted betweenthe head of said bolt and said bearing, a bearing sleeve I65 on which amaster spur gear I66 is rotatably supported so that this gear mesheswith pinion gear I4I Extending from gear I66 near the periphery thereofis a switch actuating pin I67.

Journaling in bearing 96 is a drive shaft I68 having fixed thereon adrive pinion I69, which meshes with gear I65, and a collar I76 whichprevents end play in said shaft. Shaft I68 is united by a flexiblecoupling I'll to drive shaft I72 of an electric motor I13 having amounting bracket I24 which is secured to plate 93 by screws H5.

Mounted on the base plate 93 inwardly from the Wall 94 is a normallyclosed relay release switch I89 having an arm I3! which lies in the pathof the pin I51 so as to be engaged by said pin each time the gear I66completes a single revolution whereby the switch 589 is actuated to shutoff motor I73, the momentum of which is sufiicient, before it comes to ahalt, to carry pin it? out of contact with arm I3I permitting switch I86to resume its original normally closed con dition.

The belt tightener 9I includes a rocker I82 which is pivoted on a pinI83 mounted on an arm I84 which is fixed on an adjacent wall 39, rollersI85 being pivotally mounted on pins E86 and I8? on rocker I32 (Fig. '7),whereby said rollers are freely rotatable and are maintained in parallelrelation. One end of a contractile spring i8% is attached to pin I86 andthe other end of said spring is attached to the wall 50 on which arm I84is mounted so that when this spring is stretched by rotating the rockerI82 about the pin 03 and the belt 56 extended between the rollers I85and the rocker is released, the spring I88 presses the rollers I85against said belt to take up the slack in the same and hold said belttaut. Prior to thus tightening belt 55, the latter is trained about therods 60 and I28 with the teeth of sprockets 64, I4 and I3! meshing withthe perforations 51 of said belt so that said sprockets at all timesretain belt 55 trained about the rods and I29 as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 7,8 and 11.

When it is desired to remove belt 58 from any light filter unit 55, thespring I83 is disconnected from the pin I85 thereby relaxing the belttightener 9! and permitting the belt 56 to sag out of mesh with thesprockets I31 whereupon the belt is lifted out of mesh with thesprockets 04 and i l and slid outwardly from around the rods 60 and I22and from between rollers I85.

Each of the walls 30 has an inwardly extending nose I89, near the upperend thereof, to the bottom edge of which a ring !90 is welded so as tounite all the walls 30 at this point. Fixed on the ring I90 between eachadjacent pair of walls 30 is a pair of pivot brackets I95 which arepivotally connected by pins I50 to a base I91 having fixed thereto aplain fiat mirror I98 which is trapezoidal in shape and is normally heldupwardly at an angle of substantially 45 with the horizontal by bracketsE90 fixed to base I91 at its upper outer corners, which brackets areapertured to receive the screws l9, thereby securing these brackets tothe lugs I3 (Fig. 3) and uniting the filter belt support rods 60 and themirror base 291 in a single rigid assembly.

Rubber cushions 200 are provided on brackets I95, and bosses 20! areprovided on the base I01 which engage the cushions when the screws '19are removed and the mirror I96 swung downwardly into horizontal positionfor a purpose which will be made clear hereinafter.

Resting on an annular seat 202 formed internally in the ring 35 is acircular bottom plate 2E3 of an upper bearing mount 204, this mountincluding a tube 255 which is welded to the plate 203 about a centralopening in the latter. Formed within the tube 205 is a bearing cradle206 which fits and supports the outer race of a double-sealed ballbearing 201. The outer race of said bearing is held down against thecradle 205 by a spacer 290 which lies between said bearing and acentrally apertured cap 209 which is screwed downwardly on theexternally threaded upper end of the tube 205. The bearing mount 204 isreinforced by a series of gusset plates 2 it) which are welded to thetube 205 and bottom plate 253 (Fig. 2).

The bearing 2%? is vertically coaxial with the stuihng box 20 and ahollow shaft 2 i fits snugly within the inner race of the bearing 207and extends downwardly with the lower end of said shaft rotatablymounted in the stuffing box 28 so as to receive water from the pipe 25which is con- 8 nected to a suitable high pressure pump (not shown).

The motor mount 23 has an electric motor 2I6 and'a chaintransmission2I'I mounted thereon, the shaft 215 passing vertically through saidtransmission, the latter having a sprocket 2I8 which is fixed on saidshaft and through which motor 2I5 drives said shaft at a 3 to 2 ratiowhereby a motor turning 1800 R. P. M. will rotate shaft 2 I5 at 1200 R.P. M.

Supported on the motor mount 23 is a housing 2 I9 of a blower 220, thelatter having a rotor 22I which is fixed on the shaft 2I5 so as torotate therewith. The housing 2 I9 provides an air passage 222surrounding said rotor and from which an air outlet conduit 223 leadsdownwardly to connect with conduit 21 as shown in Fig. 2. The blowerhousing 2 I 9 has an upper neck 224 through which air is adapted toenter the blower 220, said neck having a spider 225 provided thereinwhich supports a lower main ball bearing 226 in the inner race of whichsaid shaft 2I5 snugly fits so as to journal in said bearing. The housingneck 224 also provides support for a battery of flood lamps 232 whichare clustered around the shaft 2I5 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. These arepreferably G. E. 400 watt lamps and have a spun reector 23?. extendingabout the lower portions of lamps 232 and uniting with a light stack 234which extends upwardly concentric with shaft 2&5 through a centralopening in an adapter collar 235 which snugly surrounds the stack 234and is secured to the ring I as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Surrounding the lower housing neck 224 and the reflector 233 so as tomake an airtight connection between these two elements is a sleeve 23B.

Supported on the bearing mount 204 and shaft 2I5 and actuated byrotation of the latter is a revolving mirror and shutter mechanism 240(Figs. 1, 3 and 4). This mechanism includes a transmission 24I (Fig. 3)which is enclosed in a case 242 made up of an internal ring gear mount243 in a central opening of which is fixed an internal ring gear 244,and an inverted bell 245, the case 242 being secured to and supported onthe plate 203 by screws 246. The mount 243 has a vertical bore 241 towhich grease has access through a passage 248.

The bell 245 has a bearing bore 249 which is in vertical alignment withbore 241, and this bell is integral with a central sleeve 250 which isexternally threaded at its lower end, and has a shoulder 25I at itsupper end. Secured to the shaft 2I5 by a key 255 is a drive pinion 256.Spaced downwardly from the pinion 256 by a spacer tube 251 is a ballbearing 253 which fits within a central recess formed in a difierentialhub 259 having a central sleeve 200 which extends downwardly about theshaft 2I5 and out from the lower end of the sleeve 250, and isexternally threaded at its lower end.

The hub 259 has a series of three bores 26I into which pins 262 arepressed, difierential gears 263 being pivotally mounted on the upwardlyextending ends of these pins so as to mesh both with drive pinion 258and internal gear 244. The ratio between the pitch radii of these threegears is such that the hub 259 is rotated at one-half the speed of theshaft 2I5, and in the same direc tion.

The hub 259 is circular and has an upper shoulder 254 and an annulargroove 265 for receiving a split ring 266, there being an external ringgear 2'10 mounted on the hub 259 between shoulder carrying a rubbercushion 300.

234 and split ring 266, said gear being secured against rotation on saidhub by a key 2'.

Journaling in the bores 2 and 249 is a shaft 272 on which a pinion gear213 is fixed by a key 213. There is a drive of ratio 6 to 1 between thegear 210 and the pinion 213.

Fixed on the downwardly extending end of shaft 272 by key 235 is apinion gear 2H3, this gear having a cam 23? at its upper end.

Assembled on the sleeve 253 with inner races thereof spaced by a spacertube 230 is a pair of ball bearings 28l which are held thus assembledupwardly against the shoulder 25! by a bonnet 282 which is screwed ontothe lower end of the sleeve 253. The bonnet 282 has an internal annularrecess 233 which contains an expansible molded rubber lubricant seal28d.

Rotatably supported on the bearings 23! is a hub 285 of a shutter wheel2%, said hub having a threaded counter-bore 287 which receives athreaded gland 238, the latter cooperating with a shoulder 283 on theupper end of said hub for clamping said hub in place on bearings 28Iwith outer races of said bearings spaced by a spacer tube 230.

The shutter wheel 236 includes four spokes 295 which unite the hub 285with a rim 296 in which .is mounted an internal ring gear 23'! whichmeshes with the pinion 216, and bears a 1 to 12 drive ratio therewith.

Formed outwardly from the rim 236 is a horizontal flange 298 from whicha series of four cushion mounts 293 extend outwardly and upwardly at anangle (Fig. 5), each of these mounts Formed in the flange 293 (Fig. 4)is a series of 6 arcuate slots 336 which are disposed concentric withthe shaft 2l5, these slots being equally spaced circumferentially.Resting on the flange 298 and assembled therewith to permit it a limiteddegree of rotational movement relative to said flange is a shutter 332which is in the form of a ring, the assembly of said shutter on saidflange being effected by a series of rollers 303, one of which isdisposed in each of the slots 30!, and a series of bolts 334 havinglarge heads 305 which overlie edge portions of shutter 302 adjacent toslots 335, said bolts extending upwardly respectively through therollers 333 and screwing into threaded apertures provided therefor inthe shutter 332.

Lock nuts 353 are screwed onto upper ends of bolts 33 i and lock thesein adjusted positions to permit the shutter 332 to be freely rotatableon the flange 233 within the limits of movement permitted rollers 333 inthe slots 30!.

Secured to pins 35 l extending downwardly from alternate bolts 3% arecontractile coil springs 352, the opposite ends of said springs beingsecured to pins 353 which extend downwardly from flange 233.

The shutter 332 has four arms 3M which extend upwardly and outwardlytherefrom, shutter blades 3 i 5 extending downwardly from the outer endsof said arms. As shown in Fig. 1 each of these shutter blades has acircumferential width which is equal to about one-half the distancebetween the inner edges of upper portions of adjacent walls 30, thereason for this being made clear hereinafter.

Advance edge portions of arms 3% are provided with abutment shoulders3H3 which are adapted to contact cushions 330 in the operation of theinvention.

Formed on the inner edge of the ring-shaped ll) shutter 302 is a seriesof twelve escapement' teeth 3E1.

Pivotally supported on a pin 3l8 mounted by a pressed fit in a verticalaperture in a horizontal lug 313 extending outwardly from the casingbell 245 (Fig. 6) is an escapement rocker 320, there being a flat head32i on the lower end of pin 3? which supports said rocker. Rocker 323has two arms 325 and 328 the first of which is adapted to swingsuccessively into place behind teeth 311. Arm 326 has a pin 32'! whichis connected by a contractile spring 328 to a pin 329 extendingdownwardly from the bell 245, said spring constantly urging the arm 325towards a position in which it will engage the next adjacent tooth 3|!on the shutter 302.

The extremity of arm 326 is thus maintained in contact with cam 21'! onthe pinion 216, said cam being for the most part concentric with itsaxis and having a boss 330 extending radially therefrom which operateswith each rotation of the pinion 273 to swing the rocker 323 to removethe arm 325 thereof from in front of a tooth 3|! bearing thereagainst,after which the passage of the boss 333 out from under the arm 326permits the spring 328 to immediately snap the arm 325 back against theinner face of shutter 302 in the path of the next tooth 3| 1 of saidshutter.

Mounted on the lower end of the sleeve 260 is a V mirror 33!. Thisincludes a hub 332 having an internally threaded split collar 333 formedintegral therewith which is screwed onto the lower end of sleeve 263 andthen tightened in its properly adjusted relation therewith by a bolt334. The hub 332 has a bore 335 the mouth of which is internallythreaded to receive a plug 323, which confines a bearing 33] within saidbore, and has a recess 342 which is occupied by a molded rubberlubricant seal ring 343. Formed integral with hub 332 and extendingupwardly and outwardly in opposite directions therefrom at angles of 45with the shaft 2l5 are mirror mounting plates 3- which are shaped,substantially as shown in the plan view of Fig. 1, with sheet metalaprons 345 secured to the opposite edges of plates 344 and extendingdownwardly therefrom so that the low-er edges of the aprons 345 aredisposed outwardly from and slightly below the upper extremity of lightstack 234.

Secured upon the outer faces of the mirror mounting plates 334 are planemirrors 346 which may be of plate glass or highly polished metal.

The cap 239 contains a molded rubber seal ring 331 which engages theupper end of shaft 2l5 to prevent water entering the bearing housing205, said seal ring also performing the function of preventing lubricantescaping upwardly from said housing. The upper end of shaft H5 isexternally threaded and a IlOZZle 348 (Fig. 2) is screwed thereon, thedischarge orifice of this nozzle being formed at an angle of about 15relative to vertical so that the rotation of shaft 215 while water isbeing discharged from said nozzle will produce a spiral stream 349 asshown in Fig. 1

The fountain 23 is provided with an automatic color pattern controlmechanism 353 which includes a cam shaft 354 which is power driven by avariable speed motor (not shown) so that this shaft will rotate onceduring a period of predetermined length within which fountain 20 willmanifest a series of changes in the color pattern shown in Fig. 14,comprising one color cycle.

For the purpose of illustration it will be belt 56 continues 11 assumedthat three minutes has been selected as the period for said cycle.

The control mechanism includes six control systems 355, one for each ofthe filter units 55, each of said systems having a cam 351 all of whichcams are fixed on the shaft 354. Each of the cams 35'! has a finger 358,all of which fingers extend in the same direction from the shaft 354 andare electrically connected therewith. The mechanism 355 is supplied withelectricity from leads LI and L2, the latter being connected with shaft35 i.

Each of the systems 355 is provided for controlling the operation of oneof the light filter units 55 by controlling the energizing of the motorI13 thereof. As the systems 355 are identical, a description of one ofthese will suffice for all.

Referring to Fig. 17 it will be seen that a series of contacts 35.9 aredisposed circumferentially about each cam 35? to be contacted by thefinger 358 thereof at various angular positions of said finger aboutshaft 35 2. Contacts 358 are connected by a conductor 35!] to one end ofa coil 38! of a four pole magnetic switch 362 which connects the motorI13 with leads LI and L2 when said switch is actuated. As Will bereadily apparent, said switch, when actuated, maintains itself closed aslong as holding switch 180 is closed. When the motor 113 is thusactuated, it rotates the pinion gear I69, the gear 166 and the lineshaft Hit of the filter drive mechanism 90 thereby rotating all Of thesprockets l3! in a given direction so as to cause the endless filterbelt 55 to progress along the endless path in which it is suspended inthe unit 55. The energizing of motor I13 and the movement of thethroughout a single revolution of gear i3 3 which is terminated by thepin l6? engaging the arm iii! of the holding switch I88, thereby openingthis and causing the switch 352 to open which de-energizes the motor H3and brings the filter belt drive mechanism 98 of this unit 55 to a halt.

As previously noted the momentum of motor 113 after it is tie-energizedand before it halts,

carries the pin it! out of contact with the arm [8! allowing the switchI85 to close. Thus the switch 382 is again in condition to start themotor H3 the moment that finger 358 of cam 351 again engages one of thecontacts 359.

The control mechanism 353 diagrammatically shown in Fig. 17 ispreferably one of the wellknown multiple-cam electrical control devicesin which the contacts 359 are adjustable about each of the cams 35? sothat the timing of the changes taking place in the color panels 85 ofthe fountain 26 may be changed from time to time so as to introducenovelty into the color pattern manifested in the fountain 29 throughouta color cycle.

The fountain 28 is enclosed by a housing shell 389 having an inturnedflange 38i at its upper end and an outturned flange 382 at its lowerend. The flange 38l rests on a packing ring 383 and supports a flange384 of a light well 385. Extending through aligned apertures in theflanges 38! and 384 and packing ring 383, and screwed into tapped holesin the ring 31 are cap screws 386. Cap screws 38! extend down throughholes provided in the flange 382 and are screwed into tapped holesprovided in the base plate 22.

Access to the interior of the fountain 20 for servicing the same is hadthrough one or more suitable doors 388 which are preferably disposedopposite one or more of the mirrors I98 (Fig. 2). Thus by opening a door388 opposite one of the mirrors I98, and removing the screws 19supporting the outer end of this mirror, the latter may be lowered intohorizontal position with the bosses 28! thereof resting on the cushion200, thus permitting the surface of this mirror to be cleaned, and alsopermitting the rotary mirror and shutter mechanism 33! to be manipulatedto bring one of the two lateral openings in the mirror aprons 345opposite the opened door 388 which enables the operator to reach intothe fountain 2i] and downwardly into the light stack 234 so as to removeand replace the lamps 232 with new lamps when this becomes necessary.This also brings the mirrors 346 into position where they may be cleanedby the operator and gives him access to the gear box 24! for lubricationpurposes, it being necessary for this purpose to manually turn themirror 33I so that this is viewed by the operator through the openeddoor 388 as said mirror appears in Fig. 2.

Operation The fountain 28 is designed to have several distinctlydifferent modes of operation. In the first of these which may be termedmode A, light filter units 55 which are disposed diametrically oppositeto each other in the fountain 20 are exactly alike. That is, thesections 58 in the filter belts 56 of each such pair of units areidentical as to the colors presented by these, and as to the order inwhich these colors appear in said sections. In mode A the contacts 359of the control systems 355 of this pair of such units are placed inidentically the same pattern about the cams 351 of said systems so thatthe belts 56 of these units are actuated simultaneously and in a mannerto always present like colors in the panels of said pair of units 55.

In operating the fountain 20 in accordance with mode A, therefore, thesix panels 85 of the fountain are always divided into three sets ofdiametrically opposite panels, each set of which presents a singlecolor. Assuming these three colors to be red, blue and yellow, and thatthe spiral stream 349 is positioned as shown in Fig. 13 each time it isrepeatedly illuminated by the color red, it is to be noted that theserepeated illuminations take place twenty times a second. This creates inthe observer the illusion that fixed areas 395 in the fountain 318 whichare occupied by half-turns J, K, L, M and N of said spiral stream atthese moments, are constantly illuminated with the color red.

In a similar manner, when the spiral stream 3&9 is repeatedlyilluminated at the same rate by the color blue, the stream hasprogressed from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 13approximately one-third of the distance between successive half-turns sothat the half-turns J, K, L, M and N will, during each of theilluminations of the stream by the color blue, be disposed in fountainareas 396, thereby creating the illusion in the observer of seeing theseareas constantly illuminated with the color blue. Likewise, the repeatedillumination of the spiral stream 349 at the same rate with the coloryellow during the final one-third of each revolution of nozzle 348 willfind the half-turns J, K, L, M and N advanced further upwardly intoareas 391 of the fountain 3'"), thereby producing in the observer theillusion of seeing areas 391 constantly illuminated with the coloryellow.

The net effect of the illusions thus produced by the operation offountain 23 in accordance with mode A is to create the compositeillusion that the fountain is illuminated from bottom to top with aplurality of series of three spiral bands each, each of these seriesexhibiting successive bands colored, from the bottom upwardly, red, blueand yellow.

In operating fountain 20 according to mode A, the rotation of shaft 35%operates always to simultaneously change both panels 85 of each of thediametrically opposite pairs of units 55, from both showing a givensingle color to both showing another single color. When such a change ismade in the color presented by panels 85 of a single pair ofdiametrically opposite units 55, this results in a change in color inall of the areas designated in Fig. 14 by one of the three numerals 395,396 or 391. The apparatus 353 may have the contacts 359 thereof sodisposed that the color in only one of these groups of areas will bechanged at one time. On the other hand, the control mechanism 355 may beso adjusted as to change the colors in two or three of said groups ofareas at a single time. It has generally been found preferable, however,to only change one group of areas at a time and to space said changes byintervals of from five to ten seconds each.

The filter belts 56 are shown with each of these belts having sixdifferent colored sections 58 and with each of these belts in the formof an endless belt stretched out practically at its full length withinthe fountain 20. It is to be understood, of course, that the showing ofbelt 56 in this form is merely illustrative of the invention in itsbroader aspects; that each of these belts may, if desired, be formed tocontain a much larger number of individual color sections; and that itmay not be an endless belt, but with separated ends wound on separatedrums and the belt fed back and forth between these drums in order tomake a change in that section 58 which is disposed upwardly to comprisethe color panel 85. It is also to be noted that while the belts 56 arestretched practically their full length within the fountain 25], thespace which these occupy may be materially reduced by interlacingportions of each of these belts about spaced rollers compactly arranged.

The operation of fountain 20 in accordance with mode A has beendescribed without reference to the shutter 392, as the fountain is operable as described under mode A with this shutter entirely removed. Thesecond mode of operation which may be followed in operating the fountain2B and which may be referred to as mode B comprises operating thefountain in accordance with any of the other modes of operation of whichit is susceptible and at the same time employing the shutter 332. Mode Bmay be described, therefore, as follows.

Three stages in the operation of the shutter 332 are illustrated inFigs. 1, l and 15. Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate the stage shown in Fig. 15.As will be noted, the shutter 352 has four blades 3l5 and rotatesintermittently in a clockwise direction while the V-mirror 53! rotatesin a counterclockwise direction. The purpose of the shutter alreadynoted is to substantially prevent simultaneous illumination of adjacentcolor panels 85. Such overlapping of the illumination of adjacent panelsdoes not prevent the formation of the illusions above described andillustrated in Fig. 14, but the use of shutter 332 substantially sharp-14 ens the definition between adjacent color areas occurring in saidillusion.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the shutter 302 is shown with the blades3l5 thereof stationary in positions in which they will remain until theV mirror 33] continues rotating for another 22 /2" to arrive at theposition in which this is shown in Fig. 15. When this has taken place,the pinion 216 will have rotated to the point illustrated in Figs. 3 and4, causing the boss 333 to move under the arm 326 of rocker 320 to rockthe latter and remove the arm 325 from in front of the tooth 3i? engagedthereby. Owing to the engagement of said tooth by the arm 325 prior tothis taking place, the springs 3| 2 had become stretched as shown inFig. 4, and the disengagement of said tooth 3|? frees the shutter 302 torespond to said springs with a very rapid shutter action lasting aboutone five hundredth of a sec- 0nd and concluding with the impact ofshoulders 3l6 against cushions 300. While this is taking place, the boss330 moves out from under arm 325 of the rocker 32 6, causing said rockerto respond to spring 328 which returns arm 325 into contact with theinner edge of shutter 302 and in the path of the next tooth 31 l formedthereon. Engagement of said last mentioned tooth 3 I 1 with rocker arm325 immediately follows the impact of the shoulders 388 with thecushions 335, and operates to halt rotation of the shutter 302 with theshutter wheel 286. The shutter blades 3|5 are located, when the shutter332 is so halted, in the positions in which these are shown in Fig. 16.

This operation of shutter 302 continues whenever the fountain 38 isbeing operated in accordance with mode B, with the following results.Blades 335 are always positioned so that adiametrically opposite pair ofsaid blades will be located just in advance of the mirrors 346 as theyrotate from positions in alignment with one pair of filter panelstowards the next rotationally advanced pair of such panels so that saidblades intercept advance portions of shafts of light which otherwisewould be directed through said next pair of panels while the balance ofsaid light shafts is still illuminating said first mentioned pair offilter panels 85. This particular pair of shutter blades 3H5 remains sopositioned until the mirrors 3% have rotated to positions about 7 shortof position where said mirrors are substantially bisected by the planeof the walls 38 on which said two pairs of panels border. The rapidrotation of theshutter 332 above described occurs while said mirrors arerotating the next 7 and functions to remove the aforesaid pair ofshutter blades 3E5 from in front of the advance portions of the shaftsof light directed radially from said mirrors 346, and locates said pairof shutter blades in positions in covering relation with the firstmentioned pair of panels 85 so as to terminate the illumination of saidpanels by mirrors 345.

The two pairs of opposite blades 3l5 alternately perform the functionsjust described. By virtue of this action of the shutter 352, thefountain 29 when operating in accordance with mode B, practicallycompletely eliminates mixture of the colors of adjacent panels 85 whenthe light shaft from a mirror 3% is being shifted from illumination ofone panel to the next panel in advance thereof. This manifestly rendersthe different color areas in the fountain 373 more distinct and enhancesthe beauty of the fountain.

Another mode by which the fountain 25 may be operated, and which may bereferred to as mode C, is to arrange the contacts 359 in the variousfiltering unit operating systems contained therein so that from time ttime the same color will be presented in all six filter panels 85 whichwill have the effect, while this continues, of fioodlighting thefountain with a single color such as red, blue, green, yellow, orange orpurple.

Still another mode of operating the fountain 20 and which may bedesignated as mode D, is to provide the color sections 58 of the filterbelts 56 with a variety of hues so that the color of any section 58 of agiven unit 55 may be simultaneously illuminated along with any of thesections 58 of the diametrically opposite unit 55 to produce a fusion ofthese colors, and still produce a characteristic color pattern such asillustrated in Fig. 14.

In employing mode D, therefore, cams 351 of the control mechanism 355may be furnished respectively with different numbers of contacts 359 sothat, if desired, each of these cams would have a different number ofcontacts 359 than any of the other cams. Thus, one cam 351 might havesix contacts 3555, another five, another four, another three, while theother cam might have only a single contact 359. Under such anarrangement, almost an infinite variety of color schemes can beintroduced into the pattern manifested by the fountain 370.

The random mixture method followed in Mode D is also applicable wherethe filter belts B of separate filter units 55 are identical as is thecase in mode A.

The claims are:

1. In a colored fountain the combination of: a nozzle mounted forrotation about a vertical axis with a nozzle orifice inclined relativeto said axis to discharge water obliquely upwardly; means for rotatingsaid nozzle to give said stream of water the form of a spiral as itrises from said nozzle; a colored filter including a plurality ofstationary filter panels arranged in an endless series radially aboutsaid axis; a constantly energized light source concentric with said axisand a reflector mechanism including a reflector rotating about said axisin timed relation with the rotation of said nozzle to direct practicallythe whole of the light produced by said light source continuouslyupwardly through successive panels of said filter to illuminate saidspiral stream during successive intervals with different colors, thetiming between the rotation of said nozzle and the illumination of saidstream aforesaid being such that each repetition of the illumination ofsaid stream with a fiash of each given color finds the turns of saidstream disposed approximately in a corresponding series of spaced areasfixed in space, thereby creating in the observer the illusion of viewingsimultaneously a series of approximately stationary intertwineddifierently colored spirals, each correspondin in shape to the rapidlymoving spiral stream of water actually discharged by said nozzle.

2. A combination as in claim 1 in which said filter panels areapproximately contiguous to each other and in which shutter means isprovided which intercepts an advance portion of a shaft of said light ata point in between said light source and said filter as said shaftshifts from one of said filter panels to the next panel in order, so asto shield said next panel from said light until approximately theadvance half of said shaft is directed towards said next panel,whereupon said shutter means quickly shifts out of covering relationwith said next panel and into covering relation with said firstmentioned panel,

thereby substantially eliminating a'period during which said spiralstream will be simultaneously illuminated by light passing through saidtwo panels.

3. A combination as in claim 1 in which said reflector mechanismincludes a centrally disposed oblique mirror mounted for rotation intimed relation with said nozzle and against which light from said lightsource is constantly directed; and a plurality of fixed obliquelydisposed mirrors located radially outwardly from said rotating mirrorand respectively beneath said filter panels so that light from saidlight source is reflected successively by said rotating mirror onto saidfixed mirrors, each of the latter refiecting said light upwardly throughthe filter panel thereabove, to illuminate said stream with the color ofsaid panel.

4. A combination as in claim 1 in which said filter embraces a pluralityof like series of differently colored panels with the latter arranged inthe same order in each of said series, said reflector mechanism includina centrally located mirror rotating about the axis of said nozzle intimed relation with the latter, and a series of fixed mirrors obliquelydisposed and located radially outward from said rotating mirror, each ofsaid fixed mirrors being disposed beneath one of said filter panels,said rotating mirror being disposed constantly in the path of lightgenerated by said light source and reflecting said light radiallyagainst said fixed mirrors, said light in turn being refiected from thelatter upwardly through said panels to illuminate said spiral stream,said rotating mirror having a plurality of faces obliquely disposedrelative to said axis and equal in number to the number of said likeseries of panels comprised in said light filter so that said spiralstream is always illuminated at any given moment by light reflectedupwardly by said reflector mechanism through correspondingly coloredpanels of said plurality of series.

5. A combination as in claim 1 in which each of the stationary filterpanels recited therein comprises an upper portion of a flexible belt oftranslucent colored sheet material, each or said belts being made up ofa plurality of differently colored sections, each section being ofsufiicient length to form one of said panels; and means for causingtravel of each of said belts to determine which of the sections of saidbelt shall be located to form the filter panel provided by said belt.

6. A combination as in claim 1 in which each of the stationary filterpanels recited therein comprises an upper portion of a flexible belt oftranslucent colored sheet material, each of said belts being made up ofa plurality of difierently colored sections, each section being ofsufficient length to form one of said panels; means for causing travelof each of said belts to determine which of the sections of said beltshall be located to form the filter panel provided by said belt; andmeans for mounting each of said belts to cause the portion thereofforming one of said panels to be trapezoidal in shape, thereby giving asubstantially maximum area to said panel with said panels arrangedradially in an endless series as aforesaid.

7. A combination as in claim 1 in which said reflector mechanismincludes a centrally disposed oblique mirror rotating in timed relationwith said nozzle and against which light from said light source isconstantly directed; a plurality of fixed obliquely disposed mirrorslocated radially outwardly from said rotating mirror and. re-

spectively beneath said filter panels so that light from said lightsource is reflected successively by said rotating mirror onto said fixedmirrors and from the latter upwardly through the filter panels locatedrespectively thereabove, to illuminate said stream successively with thecolors of said panels; shutter means disposed between said rotatingmirror and said fixed mirrors and being rotatably mounted concentricwith said axis, said shutter means including a plurality of shutterblades, each of which is approximately half of the circumferential widthof a shaft of light directed from said rotating mirror radially ontosaid fixed mirrors; and means for intermittently rotating said shuttermeans in the opposite direction from said mirror to dispose one of saidshutter blades to intercept an advance portion of said shaft of light assaid mirror rotates to shift said beam from impingin upon one of saidfilter panels to where said shaft starts to impinge upon the next panelin order, said blade thereby shielding said next panel from said lightuntil approximately the advance half of said shaft is directed towardssaid next panel, whereupon said shutter operating means quickly shiftssaid blade out of covering relation with said next panel and intocovering relation with said first mentioned panel, thereby substantiallyeliminating a period during which said spiral stream would have beensimultaneously illuminated by light passing through said two panels.

8. A combination as in claim 1 in which said reflector mechanismincludes a centrally disposed mirror comprisin two oblique mirrorsplaced together to form a V, said central mirror being mounted forrotation about said aXis in timed relation with said nozzle,substantially the whole of the light generated by said light sourcebeing constantly directed against said rotating mirror; and a pluralityof fixed obliquely disposed mirrors located radially outwardly from saidrotatting mirror and respectively beneath said filter panels so thatlight from said light source is reflected successively by the obliquemirrors of said rotating mirror in opposite directions onto oppositepairs of said fixed mirrors, each of the latter pairs reflectin saidlight upwardly towards the filter panels disposed thereabove, therebyilluminatin said stream with the color produced by said panels.

9. A combination as in claim 1 in which said reflector mechanismincludes a centrally disposed mirror comprising two oblique mirrorsplaced together to form a V, said central mirror being mounted forrotation about said axis in timed relation with said nozzle,substantially the whole of the light generated by said light sourcebeing constantly directed against said rotating mirror; a plurality offixed obliquely disposed mirrors located radially outwardly from saidrotating mirror and respectively beneath said filter panels so thatlight from said light source is refiected successively by the obliquemirrors of said rotating mirror in opposite directions onto oppositepairs of said fixed mirrors, each of the latter pairs reflecting saidlight upwardly towards the filter panels disposed thereabove, therebyilluminating said stream with the color produced by said panels; ashutter rotatably mounted on said axis and having four blades, saidblades having a circumferential width approximately onehalf of thecorresponding dimension of shafts of light directed radially outwardlyfrom said oblique mirrors of said rotating mirror; and means forintermittently rotating said shutter in the 18 opposite direction fromsaid mirror so that one of said blades will be disposed relative to eachof said shafts so as to intercept an advance portion thereof as saidshaft shifts from one of said filter panels to the next panel in order,so as to shield said next panel from the light of said shaft untilapproximately the advance half of said shaft is directed toward saidnext panel, whereupon said shutter operatin means quickly shifts saidshutter to move said blade out of covering relation with said next paneland into covering relation with said first mentioned panel, therebysubstantially eliminating a period during which said spiral stream willbe simultaneously illuminated by light passing through said two panels.

10. In a colored fountain the combination of a nozzle mounted forrotation about a vertical axis with a nozzle orifice inclined relativeto said axis to discharge water obliquely upwardly; means for rotatingsaid nozzle to give said stream of water the form of a spiral as itrises from said nozzle; a constantly energized light source disposedbeneath said nozzle; mirror means continuously receivin light from saidlight source and actuated in timed relation with the rotation of saidnozzle to continuously direct light from said light source upwardlyalong a moving path whereby said light illuminates said spiral stream;and stationary translucent light filter means located to intercept saidpath in successive positions of the latter during each revolution ofsaid nozzle with a series of difierently colored filter panels wherebysaid stream is successively illuminated during successive intervalsduring each rotation of said nozzle with different colors, the timingbetween the rotation of said nozzle and the illumination of said streamwith a fiash of each given color finding the turns of said streamdisposed approximately in a correspondin series of spaced areas fixed inspace, thereby creating in the observer the illusion of viewingsimultaneously a series of approximately stationary intertwineddiiferently colored spirals.

11. A combination as in claim 10 in Which said mirror means includes amirror receiving light directly from said light source and continuouslyrotating about the axis of said nozzle in timed relation with therotation of said nozzle.

12. A combination as in claim 10 in which said mirror means includes amirror receiving light directly from said light source and continuouslyrotating about the axis of said nozzle in timed relation with therotation of said nozzle, and in which said mirror means also includes refleeting means receiving light from said rotating mirror and reflectingsaid light upwardly into the space occupied by said spiral stream, andin which said light filter means comprises flexible filter belt meansembodying a series of individual light filter panels connected togetheredge to edge, and means for causing said filter belt means to travel tochange the panels thereof which intercept the path along which saidlight travels to successively illuminate said spiral stream withdifferent colors so as to vary the color pattern manifested in saidfountain.

13. A combination as in claim 10 in which said mirror means includes amirror obliquely related to the axis of said nozzle and continuouslyrotating about said axis in timed relation with the rotation of saidnozzle, and in which light from said light source travels insubstantially an axial direction to impinge against said mirror wherebythe latter reflects said light substantially radially from said axis,and in which said mirror means also includes reflecting means arrangedoutwardly from said rotating mirror and surrounding said axis, saidreflecting means intercepting light travelling radially from saidrotating mirror, said reflecting means being disposed obliquely to theradial path of said light so as to deflect said light upwardly toilluminate said spiral stream.

14. A combination as in claim 10 in which said relatively stationarytranslucent light filter means has the form of flexible filter beltmeans including a series of differently colored sections joined edge toedge, each of which sections is of a different color and constitutes oneof said color filter panels; and means for causing said filter beltmeans to travel to present different combinations of said filter panelsin positions to intercept said path of light in successive positicns ofthe latter thereby varying the color pattern with which said fountain isilluminated.

15. In a colored fountain, the combination of: a nozzle mounted forrotation about a vertical axis with an eccentric nozzle orifice openingupwardly; means for rapidly rotating said nozzle to give waterdischarged from said orifice the form of a spiral stream; a light sourcedisposed symmetrically with said axis and directing light substantiallyparallel with said axis; a mirror; means for mounting said mirror in thepath of said light and disposed obliquely to said axis to reflect saidlight radially, and for rotating said mirror rapidly about said axis;stationary mirror means disposed radially from said rotating mirror inthe path of and obliquely related to said radially reflected light todeflect the same onto said spiral stream to illuminate said stream; andcolor filter means interposed in the path of said light to cause saidlight to be colored and to impart a corresponding color to said spiralstream.

16. In a colored fountain, the combination of: a nozzle mounted forrotation about a vertical axis with an eccentric nozzle orifice openingupwardly; means for rotating said nozzle to give water discharged fromsaid orifice the form of a spiral stream; a light source disposedsymmetrically with said axis and directing light substantially parallelwith said axis; a mirror; means for mounting said mirror in the path ofsaid light and disposed obliquelyto said axis to refieet said lightradially, and for rotating said mirror rapidly about said axis;stationary mirror means disposed radially from said rotating mirror inthe path of and obliquely related to said radially reflected light todeflect the same onto said spiral stream to illuminate said stream; andcolor filter means comprising a stationary filter panel disposed in thepath of said light after the latter is reflected from said rotatingmirror and occupying a segmental portion of the area through which saidrel eeted light passes during each rotation of said mirror, the rates ofrotation of said mirror and said nozzle being in timed relation to causesaid panel to be penetrated by said light during correspondingfractional portions of successive rotations of said. nozzle.

17. A combination as in claim 16 in which means is provided which fromtime to time substitutes for said stationary filter panel, and in thesame location thereof, a difierently colored filter panel.

18. A combination as in claim 17 in which said filter panel substitutionmeans comprises a flexible belt including a series of flexibledifferently colored filter panels joined edge to edge;

20 and guide means over which said belt travels to present the panelsthereof successively in said location.

19. A combination as in claim 18 in which said flexible belt is endless;means for maintaining said belt in uniformly taut condition; and meansfor advancing said belt along its endless path to successively presentthe filter panels thereof in said location.

20. A combination as in claim 19 in which each filter panel comprises atrapezoidal portion of said belt and in which said location is in ahorizontal plane above said stationary mirror means, with the inwardlyprojected lines of the non-parallel sides of the panel occupying saidlocation, intersecting approximately at said axis.

21. A combination as in claim 20 in which approximately radial rods areprovided for said belt to turn about at the radial edges of saidlocation; sprocket near the ends or said rods; a pair of rods in spacedangled relation with said first rods; sprockets near the ends of saidlast mentioned rods, edges of said belt being perforated to mesh withsaid sprockets, said belt being trained about said four rods in meshingre lation with said sprockets; and means for rotating certain of saidsprockets to advance said belt to successively dispose said panels insaid location.

22. In a colored fountain, the combination of: a nozzle mounted forrotation about a vertical axis with an eccentric nozzle orifice openingupwardly; means for rapidly rotating said nozzle to give waterdischarged from said orifice the form of a spiral stream; a light sourcedisposed. symmetrically with said axis and directing light substantiallyparallel with said axis; a mirror; means for mounting said mirror in thepath of said light and disposed obliquely to said axis to reflect saidlight radially, and for rotating said mirror rapidly about said axis;stationary mirror means disposed radially from said rotating mirror inthe path of and obliquely related to said radially reflected light todeflect the same onto said sprial stream to illuminate said stream; andcolor filter means comprising a stationary series of diirerently coloredfilter panels arranged in a sequence about said axis, the rates ofrotation of said mirror and said nozzle being in timed relation to causesaid panels to be consecutively penetrated by said light, after thelatter is reflected from said rotating mirror, during each rotation ofsaid nozzle.

23. A combination as in claim 22 in which means is provided which fromtime to time substitutes for one of said stationary filter panels, andin the same location thereof, a differently colored filter panel, so asto cause said color filter means with each such substitution, to presenta different overall consecutive color pattern to said light.

2 A combination as in claim 22 in which means is provided whichprogressively substitutes for the panels of said series and in therespective locations thereof, diflerently colored filter panels thanwhere previously in said respective locations, whereby a differentoverall consecutive color pattern is presented by said color filtermeans with each individual panel substitution.

25. A combination as in claim 22 in which said mirror is provided withcircumferential blinder walls rotating therewith and restricting theradial angle through which said light is free to be reflected radiallyfrom said mirror at any given moment, so as to substantially limit theover- 21 lapping of time period during which said light penetratesadjacent filter panels.

26. A combination as in claim 25 in which a shutter means is providedincluding shutter blades disposed to partially mask at times the lightopening provided in said blinder walls; a mount for said blades which isrotatable about said axis; and means for intermittently rotating saidmount about said axis in the opposite direction to said mirror and intimed relation therewith to cause one of said shutter blades to mask anadvance portion of said mirror opening each time the latter startsacross a radial plane dividing the areas occupied by adjacent filterpanels, and then shift with a partial rotation of said mount, when saidopening is bisected by said plane, to come to rest in position to mask afollowing portion of said opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

